Honda, Kagawa named to Japan squad for Ghana friendly

JIM ARMSTRONGMay 18, 2018

Japanese national soccer coach Akira Nishino answers reporter's question during a press conference on an upcoming friendly match against Ghana Friday, May 18, 2018, in Tokyo. Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa were named on Friday to Japan's squad for an international friendly on May 30 against Ghana in Yokohama.(AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Japanese national soccer coach Akira Nishino answers reporter's question during a press conference on an upcoming friendly match against Ghana Friday, May 18, 2018, in Tokyo. Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa were named on Friday to Japan's squad for an international friendly on May 30 against Ghana in Yokohama.(AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

TOKYO (AP) — New Japan coach Akira Nishino named Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa on Friday to Japan’s squad for an international friendly on May 30 against Ghana in Yokohama.

Japan is expected to name its final 23-man squad for the World Cup on May 31, several days ahead of the June 4 deadline.

The two had struggled to make the team under former coach Vahid Halilhodzic. But Nishino made it clear they are critical.

“You all probably know their play well, and they’re vital to the national team,” Nishino told reporters. “I hope they will maintain their performance and contribute.”

Friday’s announcement was the first indication about which players Nishino has in mind for the World Cup.

Japan fired Halilhodzic last month, only two months before the World Cup opens, and replaced him with Nishino.

Honda has seven goals with Mexican side Pachuca this season. The attacking midfielder, a mainstay on Japan’s recent World Cup squads, fell out of favor with Halilhodzic, who benched him during qualifying matches.

Borrussia Dortmund midfielder Kagawa, who has been struggling with injuries, was named for the first time since October.

In two World Cup warm-up matches, Japan will face Switzerland on June 8 in Lugano, Switzerland, and Paraguay on June 12 in Innsbruck, Austria.

Japan will be playing in its sixth straight World Cup, but has only twice reached the knockout round, losing both times in the last 16. It reached the last 16 in 2002 under French coach Philippe Troussier, and again in 2010 under Japanese coach Takeshi Okada.

Japan will play in Group H at the World Cup with Colombia, Poland and Senegal.